It doesn't have to be North Face!

I have a North Face Microbyte which is great in terms of pocket arragement.

But the main compartment is too small (17 liters).

So I want a bigger one in a similar style with:

• A main pocket that the laptop can come out of easily without the opening of the bag covering the laptop sleeve.

• Or separate laptop pocket with its own zip.

• A main compartment.

• Another compartment that’s deep with some internal storage and holders for notebooks, pens, small stuff.

• A small front zip pocket that I can put pens and keys etc in.

• Bottle holders on the size.

• It would be nice I could lean it against stuff without it sliding over.

The North Face Vault Recon looks perfect in terms of pockets but is it too big (30 liters)?

I like the North Face Cryptic but that doesn’t have a smaller pocket on the front.

I like the North Face Borealis but not sure how deep that middle pocket is?

The North Face Vault is no good as the laptop would be trapped by the hood of the opening.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

I need a bag to carry things like a 13-inch laptop, a notepad and some pens, a book for reading and water bottle regularly. I'm interested in durability and comfort (good shoulder straps/back padding) and holding my stuff and that's it. I'm interested in North Face specifically as they seem to be good at making their bags comfortable even if they don't look as stylish as other brands.

I've looked into the North Face Vault and the Microbyte. The vault has more capacity (~28l vs 17l) but would probably be too large for what I need. However, the Microbyte lacks any water bottle holders and is a little more expensive.

I've seen the Microbyte recommended here, but I didn't understand what makes it better than the Vault as a laptop backpack. It's more compact and incorporates nylon. It also has a flatter/more box-like design that I prefer. Are there any other significant differences? Why isn't the Vault recommended as often? Or the Borealis, which also has a dedicated laptop pouch and uses nylon?

I'm open to other products/brands but I'm in the UK so I don't want to bother with ones I have to buy from America.

Also are there any warranties that actually do cover wear and tear?

UPDATE: I got an Osprey Pandion 28 because it was 40% off and had everything else I need including the airspeed ventilated back. I know that doesn't really match my title but I did say I was open to other brands and I found some reviews complaining about stiff backs on the North Face Borealis. Thank you for the responses though. I'll load the bag with some stuff and describe how it feels to wear.

UPDATE2: The backpack was just delivered. The insides look fine, zippers move a bit difficulty but are fine, back is comfortable. The hipstrap (which is just a strap with no padding) helps to distribute the weight a little. I don't know how to use the kickstand but I loaded the backpack with two books and a laptop evenly across the main compartment and it stood on its own (falls over when empty).

HOWEVER, there's this part between the shoulder straps that just protrudes into your neck and is very uncomfortable. The straps are just naturally close to each other (they connect to each other at the top, kinda) compared to my brother's backpack and as a result they dig into your neck from the sides and I don't think that can be fixed. Here's a screenshot from a video showcasing the backpack where you can see how close the straps are to one another at the top. Fuck.

Review of the LTT Commuter Backpack After One Month of Use

After about a month with the LTT Commuter Backpack, coming from years of using the North Face Recon, I have very mixed feelings. The build quality and overall look are excellent. It feels sturdier than the Recon, the materials are noticeably higher end, and the straps are a real upgrade. The shoulder support is significantly better, and I can carry more weight without it feeling heavy or digging in. In terms of durability, it feels like a bag that could last forever.

The problems appear once you actually use it as a daily commuter bag. The internal pocket layout is, frankly, a mess. All the pockets are positioned deep against the back wall of the bag and are extremely hard to reach in everyday use. I constantly find myself wishing I could flip the entire top edge forward just to access them properly. There is also a pocket sitting all the way at the bottom of the back panel which becomes basically unreachable if you have anything soft or bulky like a jacket inside. The pockets themselves are oversized and deep, so everything just drops to the bottom. Finding keys, a wallet, or a phone becomes a full scavenger hunt because you cannot see into the pockets and have to feel your way around each one.

On top of that, there are numerous hidden pockets behind the water-bottle sleeves and on the back. These feel like they were designed for someone paranoid about pickpocketing. For an everyday commuter who wants quick access, they have almost no practical use. I do not want to spin the backpack around, set it down, and unzip tight little compartments just to grab a wallet. It defeats the purpose of convenience entirely.

The laptop section is well thought out, but I rarely carry a laptop, so that benefit is mostly wasted on me. The sunglasses pouch is fine, but the front of the bag desperately needs more accessible pockets. At least one more, if not two or three. As it stands, the organization feels like it was designed for someone going on a weekend trip who will not open the bag until they reach their destination. It is not designed for a daily in-and-out commuter routine in a city like New York.

I really wanted this to be my new daily driver, and there are parts of it that I genuinely love. But the internal layout is so inconvenient that it makes the bag frustrating to use. Unfortunately I am likely switching back to the North Face Recon.

Original post here- https://www.reddit.com/r/LinusTechTips/comments/1ow21pf/finally_daily_driving_the_ltt_commuter_backpack/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button